Review: Catherine by April Lindner

Catherine by April Lindner

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Poppy (January 1, 2013)

Goodreads Description:

A forbidden romance. A modern mystery. Wuthering Heights as you’ve never seen it before.

Catherine is tired of struggling musicians befriending her just so they can get a gig at her Dad’s famous Manhattan club, The Underground. Then she meets mysterious Hence, an unbelievably passionate and talented musician on the brink of success. As their relationship grows, both are swept away in a fiery romance. But when their love is tested by a cruel whim of fate, will pride keep them apart?

Chelsea has always believed that her mom died of a sudden illness, until she finds a letter her dad has kept from her for years—a letter from her mom, Catherine, who didn’t die: She disappeared. Driven by unanswered questions, Chelsea sets out to look for her—starting with the return address on the letter: The Underground.

Told in two voices, twenty years apart, Catherine interweaves a timeless forbidden romance with a compelling modern mystery.

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My Thoughts:

After reading Jane by April Lindner and loving it I knew that I would become an avid reader of her books.    I went into reading Catherine with high expectations and I wasn't disappointed. I can't tell how good of a modern take on Wuthering Heights it is (I've never read Wuthering Heights before. I know, shame on me), but I know that this was a good book. 

The story is told from two points of view, Chelsea (who is 17) and her mother, Catherine (when she was 17). I liked how the author went back and forth between them because it really allows the reader to understand them both. This story is pure drama with some mystery thrown in. From practically the beginning I felt such sadness while reading, I even cried a little bit at one point. I actually didn't like most of the characters in the book (their personalities and the choices they make) but all of that is what makes up the story, and the story is great.  Now that I have read Catherine I really want to read Wuthering Heights.

4.5/5

Review: Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

Shades of Earth (Across the Universe #3) by Beth Revis

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill (January 15, 2013)

Goodreads Description:

The final book in the  New York Times bestselling trilogy, perfect for fans of Battlestar Galactica and Prometheus!

Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceshipGodspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.

But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.

Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing.

FUELED BY LIES.

RULED BY CHAOS.

ALMOST HOME.

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My Thoughts:

I love, love, love, loooved this book! Each book in this series gets better and better. Sadly, this is the last book in the series, but on the bright side at least I wasn't disappointed with the ending. I do really wish the author would at least write some kind of spin-off or something.

In this book Amy, Elder, and 1k+ people land on Centauri-Earth. The planet is an unknown place full of danger. People are terrified and it leads to bad decisions. One of the dangers on the planets is giant pterodactyl bird creatures, which was pretty interesting. I would have liked to read more about the flora and fauna of the planet but the story really stayed focused on the characters. Although I had suspicions about certain things throughout the story I was still surprised a lot. There were some nice twists thrown in. The ending was a good one but did leave me wanting more. Overall a great addition to the series.

5/5

Review: Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Alice in Zombieland (White Rabbit Chronicles #1) 

by Gena Showalter

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin Teen (September 25, 2012)

Goodreads Description:

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.

I'd tell my sister no.

I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.

I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.

Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.

I'd tell them I love them.

I wish... Yeah, I wish.

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My Thoughts:

I went into this thinking that it would be a retelling of Alice in Wonderland, but I quickly learned that wasn't really the case. There were actually only a few Alice in Wonderland elements. Although it took me a little while to get into the story it turned out to be pretty interesting.

I enjoyed the characters and really can't wait to learn more about some of them in future installments of the series. I'm particularly intrigued with Cole and his friends and want to know more about their pasts. One of the things I liked most was the zombies. They are not the typical run of the mill zombies. They are very unique. I had some difficulty understanding how things worked with them but eventually I got it. 

There are lots of great twists and surprises in the story so I don't feel I can say too much without giving something away. Just know that if you enjoy YA books like the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa you will likely enjoy this book as well.

4/5